3. Artificial nutrients

3.1 Definition of artificial nutrients

Direct administration of nutrients is commonly referred to as artificial feeding:

• in the stomach or small intestine: this is enteral nutrition;

• into the peripheral venous system or, more often, the central venous system via a catheter: this is parenteral nutrition.

Artificial nutrition includes certain oral food supplements. The aim of these supplements is to provide maximum calories in minimum volume. They are taken outside mealtimes, with the aim of increasing daily energy intake in patients with nutritional deficiencies.

The use of these various types of artificial nutrition has become particularly frequent...